Lionel Messi's No 10 shirt for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami has been chosen as one of the most influential fashion pieces of 2023 after the recent New York auction of the player's jerseys.
Messi's popularity has suddenly expanded tenfold since his move to the United States, with fans from all over the world travelling to Miami to catch sight of the eight-time Ballon D'Or winner.
However, it is his jersey that has found widespread appeal after his departure, with lifestyle magazine Vogue recognising his shirt as one of the most sought-after pieces of apparel to reach stores in the recent year.
It is unusual to see a piece of football apparel ranked so high, but since fashion evolves year after year, perhaps Messi's Barbie-like outfit is beginning to transform the scene.
Vogue stated via their countdown how the former Barcelona man's shirt continues to make waves across the world.
“Immediately following the Messi announcement, the generic Inter Miami jersey, in an unexpected shade of un–Barbie pink, sold out, giving rise to a rich bootleg industry. Now, nearly five months later, the official Messi jersey, sporting his number 10, remains wait-listed in most sizes on the Adidas website.”
Messi's popularity has continued to draw numerous high-profile visitors to Inter Miami's games this season, with LeBron James, Kim Kardashian, and Selena Gomez among those visible in the audience.
He also assisted David Beckham's team in winning their first piece of silverware, the 2023 Leagues Cup, with a total of 10 goals.